DELORDSON has released a new LightSwitch Shell called the LightSwitch OutlookBar Shell. This Shell offers some unique features that are not found on any LightSwitch Shell due to a clever use of hidden screen buttons to allow you to create a grouped accordion menu that can display your own custom icons.

Installing

When you purchase the LightSwitch OutlookBar Shell you will receive a .vsix file. You simply double-click on the file to install the Shell.

You then go into the Properties of your LightSwitch application and enable the Shell by checking the box next to it in the Extensions section.

Finally you activate it by selecting it in the Shell dropdown in the General Properties section.

Using The Shell

The Shell features a collapsible menu and the ability to display a logo (you set the logo in General Properties).

… because it can make a big difference in the overall look of your application.

Grouping With Icons

The feature that the OutlookBar Shell has, that no other Shell has, is the ability to allow you to create grouping on the menu with icons.

First we create some groups and set the Default Screen.

This will automatically create a ‘Outlook Style’ accordion menu for the groups.

We open the Default Screen and add a button to the Screen Command Bar.

We set the name of the button to the exact name of the group.

We uncheck the Is Visible box and set an image for the button.

The image will now show up for the group.

When we collapse the menu, the icons will still show.

The same method is used for Screens.

No other LightSwitch Shell allows you to create icons for all groups and screens.

The shell also properly display validation errors in the same manner as the default LightSwitch Shell.

Most custom Shells require the user to hover over an error icon to see the validation errors.

DELORDSON - Quality Themes And Shells

Delordson has a long history with the LightSwitchHelpWebsite.com. The relationship started when he asked us to provide feedback on his original sets of Themes. It was the testing of the LightSwitchHelpWebsite’s Minimal Shell with those Themes that issues were raised and then addressed by Delordson. This attention to quality led to the decision to exclusively market his LightSwitch Extra Themes.

Creating Shells for LightSwitch is very difficult. We had a series of discussions about the challenges of creating a commercial quality Shell months ago. The OutlookBar Shell has gone through a number of revisions during extensive beta testing. The challenges that Delordson had to overcome were numerous. The LightSwitchHelpWebsite recommends the OutlookBar Shell because we have worked hand in hand with its development.

I was able to get the icon on the main task, however when I attempt to create buttons for the other forms I am getting "an objects already exist with ath name"Please advise

By Delroy on 2/22/2012 3:32 PM

Re: The DELORDSON LightSwitch OutlookBar Shell

@Delroy - DELORDSON is monitoring the support forum at: http://lightswitchhelpwebsite.com/Forum/tabid/63/aff/27/Default.aspx (this is also the link that is in the email you receive when you place your order).

By Michael Washington on 2/22/2012 3:33 PM

Re: The DELORDSON LightSwitch OutlookBar Shell

Great, great shell, I should test it first, this is a tip for you and for every shell developer,you should use globalization in programming, I'm from ecuador, we speak spanish here, so your options are in englishthat is my only requirement, I've already pruchase it so It would be nice to make that adition particulary in the add and remove buttons, and in the validation summary

By Freddy on 2/22/2012 7:13 PM

Re: The DELORDSON LightSwitch OutlookBar Shell

@Delroy,

I may be wrong but it sounds like you are trying to add a second command button but with the same name as one you are using for a task. LightSwitch (as opposed to the shell) doesn't allow that. (sorry if I've got that wrong). If not, contact me (delordson at gmail dot com) and I'll see if you can help you directly.

By Delordson on 2/23/2012 4:52 AM

Re: The DELORDSON LightSwitch OutlookBar Shell

@Freddy,

I absolutely agree with you. I don't think though that LightSwitch itself currently supports localisation which makes me wonder how we would pick up the resources from a shell but I promise to investigate and report back on what's possible.

ThanksDelordson

By Delordson on 2/23/2012 5:03 AM

Re: The DELORDSON LightSwitch OutlookBar Shell

Tried to use discount code on fifth day and said is expired...

By jpass022 on 2/26/2012 10:44 AM

Re: The DELORDSON LightSwitch OutlookBar Shell

very nice shell. But what about RTL Languages ? are they supported or not?

By Abu Shabab on 2/28/2012 8:11 AM

Re: The DELORDSON LightSwitch OutlookBar Shell

Does this Shell implement screen tabs the way that the Default LightSwitch Shell does?

By this I mean...

1. When a user opens a screen the screens tab is automatically activated if the screen is already open?

2. If a screen has been set to "Allow Multiple Instances" within the LightSwitch app is a new tab containing a new instance of the screen opened and automatically activated? (Like the default LightSwitch Shell)

3. If a user closes a screen via the containing tab and the screen is dirty (requires saving) is the tab automatically activated so the user can see the Save / Disregard / Cancel dialog box? (Like the default LightSwitch Shell)

I have now spent several days working on my own Shell and am trying to get the same functionality as the default Shell. Im almost there but am struggling with the functionality listed in line item 3 above. If this Shell has that functionality built in I will purchase the code just to see how it is done.

@Paul Hale - You can ask questions and get support in the DELORDSON forums at: http://lightswitchhelpwebsite.com/Forum/tabid/63/aff/27/Default.aspx (he monitors the forums not this blog post)

By Michael Washington on 3/6/2012 5:13 AM

Re: The DELORDSON LightSwitch OutlookBar Shell

I'm missing something on adding icons to screen menu items. I get the same "Cannot use name ''. It already exists." error that DelRoy was seeing. Should we be adding the icon button to a different section of the layout from the Screen Command Bar section like we do for the Group menu item icons?